Ribbon inking device



Oct. 17, 1950 o. w. MARKES RIBBON INKING DEVICE 3 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1945 lllllrlldl l I I x I lllllllldear/v0 M #742415: -67

o. w. MARKES 2,526,571

Oct. 17, 1950 RIBBON INKING DEVICE);

Filed Dec. 3, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 142mm 04 4040 M Mamas rraiwcy Oct. 17, 1950 o. w. MARKES 2,526,571

RIBBON INKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v l/IVC/Yrd? 22.19. 133 an) M maze 3 krmP/wsy i atented 6d. 17,

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE RIBBON INKING DEVICE Orland W. Markes, Detroit,'Mich. Application December 3, 1945, Serial No. 632,503

Myinvention relates to a new and useful improvement in an inkingdevice adapted for ink- 4 Claims. (Cl. 91-48) ing ribbons on writing machines'which use an inked ribbon and against which the type or typing unit strikes to produce the impression on a paper or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inking device of this class whereby the ink may be applied to the ribbon as it is being unwound from the reel and whereby the ink may be uniformly applied.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inking device of this class whereby an inking roller may be maintained incontact with a ribbon as it is traveling from the reel and maintained in such contact as to present the necessary pressure for proper inking and yet at the same time free to move in the event the pressure applied should become excessive.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inking device of this class having a roller of a width at least as wide as the ribbon to be inked and provided with means for maintaining the roller in contact therewith and also provided with means for inking the roller throughout its entire length or at specifiedparts thereof.

Another object of. the invention is the provision in an inking device of this class of an ink-applying roller and means movable axially of the inkapplying roller for applying ink to the roller.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a swingably mounted ink applicator for inking roller and provided with a weight for maintaining the applicator in proper contact with the roller.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an ink applicator in an inking device so arranged and constructed that it may be readily moved to operative and inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inking device which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, compact, and of light weight and easily and quickly attached to a machine having a traveling ribbon on which the inkiis to be applied.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention and it is intended that such shall be embraced within the scope of the claims which form a part hereof.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in which, p

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention showing it applied with parts broken away and parts shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side'elevational view of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of i 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the wick-carrying member,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the wick-carrying member showing it from the rear,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational View of a slight modification of the invention with parts broken away and parts shown in section,

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the form shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of form shown in Fig. 7,

- Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line |0l 0 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the invention,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the wick-carrying member,

Fig. 13 is a central sectional view of another modification of the invention,

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the modification shown in Fig. 13 with parts broken away,

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15-45 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 16 is a sectional view takenon line Iii-l6 is deposited. This reservoir 21 has formed in its opposite side walls an opening 28 through which a pin 29 is projected for pivotally mounting the reservoir 21011 the yoke arms 36 and 3| which are fastened by the pivots or pins 32 on the machine with which the inking device is to be used. This machine also has a reel 34' onto which and out of which is wound an inking ribbon 35 which passes around a guide member 36. The reservoir 21 is provided with a bracket 33 which engages the yoke arms 30 and 3! and.

prevents the reservoir 21 from swinging beyond a pre-determined point.

Formed in the oppositely disposed 38 of the reservoir are registering notches 39.

walls 31 and 3 Secured to and projecting outwardly from the upper end of the reservoir 27 are supporting arms iii and ii between which is rotatably mounted an ink-applying roller 52 which is adapted to contact one face of the ribbon 35.

A wick-containing tube 43 is provided on which is mounted a suitable bracket ii-l having an opening 35 formed therein. Slidably projected through this opening 35 is a plate it having a. notch 41 formed in one side and a recess 48 in the opposit side to provide the legs 49 and B. Formed in the lower edge of this plate 46 are notches 5!. This plate 46 serves as a supporting plate for the wick-carrying tube 43 and is adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the side walls 37 and 38 the plate 46 engaging in the notches 39.

Extending through the tube 43' so as to be submerged at its lower end in the ink contained in the reservoir 27 is a wick 53. The upper end of this wick is divided into a pair of parts 54 and 55 which extend through openings 55 and 58 formed in the plate 62. This plate 52 is provided with the notches 6B and Bi on its upper edge and the portions 5 and 55 :are doubled over upon the plate after being passed through the openings 58 and 5'6 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

Mounted on the lower end of the tube 43 is a weight 52.

In use the structure is assembled as shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to apply ink to the roller 42 the wick-carrying tube 43 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1. And in this position the plate 46 is in engagement in the notches 49. When it is desired to move the wick-carrying tube to inoperative position the wick-carrying tube is elevated until the plate 46 disengages from the notches 38 whereupon the tube 63 may be moved away from the roller 42. It will be noted that the plate 4% is loosely mounted on the wick-carrying tube d3 so that a floating mounting is provided. This tube 43 ma rock on the plate 16 as a pivot. In order that the wick portion which engages the roller 42 may be applied thereto with proper pressure the weight 52 is mounted on the-tube '33. It will be noted that the plate 52 is at an incline to the axis of the tube E3 and that since the tube 43 has a tendency because of the weight 52 to move to vertical position the plate 62 is held in that position where the wick covering it engages the roller 4'2 at the proper pressure. It is of course free to rock away from the roller 42 against the pressure exerted by the tube 43 and the weight 52.

.As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the plate 62 is of less width than the roller 32 and by moving the plate 46 so that successive notches 5! may engage the edges of the walls 38 and 3'! the inkapplying wick portion which engages the roller 42 may be moved from end to end thereof. This construction makes it possible to ink only a portion of the roller so that if desired a narrow ribbon may be used or only a portion of the ribbon may be inked.

In Fig. '7, I have shown a modification. In the form shown in Fig. 7 I provide a pair of supporting legs i! and i2 having the angularly turned portions M and 2'3 respectively which overlie each other and which are provided with the elongated slots 15 and it which project inwardly from one end thereof and through which engages or passes a bolt '31. This bolt i1 also passes through the plate 18 of a bracket which has the upwardly positioned plate is which is slidably projected into a channel mounted on the base of the ink receptacle or reservoir 3%. The set screw 88 is used to lock the plate 1% in fixed relation in the channel 86 so that the reservoir may be shifted longitudinally of the plate it. plate 82 which is fixedly attached to the plate 78 and which is provided with the upwardl extended portion 83 against which may be secured, by means of the clip 8? the supporting bar which is formed on the machine with which the inking device is to be used. The legs i! and 52 are each provided with a recess 8'5 in which engages a bar 8% which also forms a part of the machine with which the device is to be used.

I provide a hood or cover for the reservoir ti comprising the upper wall $11 andthe side walls 5i and 9'2. Each of these side walls is provided with an elongated slot 93 communicating with the laterall directed slots 9 and 95. Upwardly projecting tongues 9% and 9'? are formed on the top 96 at the forward end thereof. Projecting outwardly from the forward end of the side walls 9| and 92 of the hood are lugs and between which is rotatably mounted :a roller liiil.

Formed in the top is an opening iti through which is adapted to be projected a tube Hi2 which carries a wick this wick I83 extending throughout the length of the tube H32 and projecting beyond the lower end thereof so that the wick would be submerged in ink contained in the reservoir or receptacle Bi. Mounted on the outer end of the tube Ilil is a tube i8 1 extending substantially at right angles thereto and pro vided at its end with a plate 15 on the sides of which are formed the notches [9E and mi. The wick is divided into a pair of strands H08 and I69 which are folded around the plate H35 and engaged in the notches I86 and I67 so that there is a layer of wick extending across one face of the plate 15 as shown at H6 in Fig. 10.

Projected through the reservoir 8! and extending beyond the side walls thereof is a pin Ill. The projectin ends H2 and H3 serve as trunnions which are adapted to engage in the slots 9 or 95. It will be noted that these slots 9d and terminate below the top 99 so that when the hood is mounted on the reservoir 3i with the pin Hi engaging in the slots 34% or 95 the hood 96 has a tendency to tilt downwardly at its for ward end as clearly shown in Fig. 10. When the hood is positioned in the location shown in Fig. 10 the inking roller it!) will be out of contact with the ribbon H4 which is wound on the reel I I5. When it is desired to ink the ribbon i ii the hood is moved forwardly so that the pin II I will engage in the slots 94 instead of the slots 95 as shown in Fig. '7. The roller will then engage the ribbon at the reel H5 or just as it is unwinding from the reel. As the ribbon unwinds and the diameter of the wound reel becomes less the forward end of the hood will tilt downwardly so that the roller I00 will maintain contaet with the ribbon as clearly'shown in dotted line in Fig. '7. The roller will of course receive the ink from the layer I ID of the wick which is folded over the face of the plate I95 and engages the periphery of the roller I00.

Experience has shown that this is a simple and effective device for inking a ribbon and by having the roller engage the ribbon as it unwinds from the reel an advantage is obtained as the The bolt 7? also passes through the jerking of the ribbon takes place only at a distance from the reel and not at the point of contact where the roller I60 is adapted to engage. It is believed obvious that the shifting of the device from operative to inoperative position is an operation which may be easily effected.

The structure is also quite light and the reservoir is sufficiently large to provide a quantity of ink so that frequent attention to the device is avoided. Moreover, the reservoir 8| may be shifted to various positions by moving the same longitudinally of the plate 18 and the legs II and I2 may be moved to various distances of spaced relation so as to accommodate it 'for mounting on the structure of various heights of machines and various sizes of machines. 7

In Fig. 13, I have shown a further modification of the invention. In this structure the reservoir I25 is provided with a bottom I26. Mounted on the bottom I26 is a plate I21 which is spaced therefrom to provide the channel or space I28 in which a suitable bracket plate I29 may slide, a set screw I38 serving to lock the reservoir I25 in fixed relation on the plate I29. This plate or bracket I29 is provided with the upwardly projecting portion I3I havin the hood I32 formed at its upper end and provided with the L-shaped bracket I33 whereby the structure may be fastened to a suitable support on the machine with which used. A plate I34 is provided at its opposite sides with downwardly projected flanges I35 and I35 through which is. extended a pin I31 on which is rotatably mounted a roller I38. This pin I31 also projects through the legs I39 and I 46 of U-shaped structure having a bight I45. Suitable spacing washers I4I, I42, I43, and I44 are used. As shown in Fig. 18 these legs I40 and I39 of the U-shaped structure are provided with slots I45 for the reception of the pin I31 so that the U-shaped structure may be readily attached and detached from the pin I31.

The bight I45 is provided with a central opening I41 through which is projected a wick-containing tube I48 through which extends the wick I49 projecting from the lower end thereof so as to be in contact with the ink which is deposited in the reservoir I25. Projecting outwardly from the upper end of this wick-containing tube I48 is a plate I58 around which is folded the upper ends of the wick I49 which is adapted to engage the periphery of the roller I38. The plate I34 is provided at one of its ends with the inwardly projecting slot II which serves to divide the plate into a pair of tongues which are curled to form half-knuckles I52 and I53. A rocking bar I54 is provided with the rods I55 and I56 which project therethrough and extend outwardly from oposite sides thereof. This bar I54 is sufficiently narrow to enter the slot I5I as clearly shown in Fig. 15. A weight I5! is carried at the lower end of the bar I54. A shaft I58 is extended through the flanges I35 and. I36 and also through the side walls of the reservoir I25 so as to rockably mount the plate I34 on the side walls and within the reservoir I25.

In use the reservoir would be "mounted on the part of the machine with which used so that the roller I38 could contact the ribbon I68 which is wound onto and wound from the reel I6I. The roller I38 and. the tube I48 are of sufiiciient weight so that these parts tend to rock the plate I34 downwardly. In order to rock the plate I 34 upwardly so that the roller will maintain contact with the ribbon I68 I provide the bar I54 with the weight I51 attached thereto.

When this bar'is inserted in the slot I5I and elevated so that the pin I56 engages the plate I34 the lower end of the bar will be elevated from the bottom I26 of the reservoir and will by gravity rock the plate I34 downwardly against the weight of the tube I48 and the roller I38 and the assembled parts so that this bar I54 serves to normally maintain the roller I38 in engagement with the ribbon. The roller is inked from the contact of the wick with the periphery thereof. Since the U-shaped structure embodying the legs I39 or I46 and the bight I45 tends to swing downwardly to the vertical and since the tube I48 which is slightly smaller than the opening I 47 tends'also to swing to vertical position the upper end of the tube which carries the plate I58 will always be maintained in contact with the periphery of the roller I38. As the ribbon is unwound from the reel -I6l the weight I51 will move downwardly so that the plate I34 will be rocked upwardly at the roller bearing end as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 13 or in full lines in Fig. 14, to always maintain contact with the surface of the ribbon I68. When it is desired that the device be rendered inoperative the bar I54 may be raised and then placed in position so that the pin I55 will engage the plate I34. When in-this position however, the lower end of the weight I5! will rjest upon the bottom I26 and the roller I38 will be swung downwardly out of engagement with the ribbon I68.

- It is believed that it is obvious that the wickbearing tube I48 together with the U-shaped member embodying the bight I45 may be readily removed and replaced without disturbing the mounting of the other parts. Experience has shown that a reservoir mounted slidably on a support as indicated is possessed of considerable advantages and experience has also shown that with a roller pressed against the ribbon in the manner indicated a smooth operating device is provided and one which will effectively ink a ribbon as it is wound 011 of or wound onto the reel I 6I.

What I claim is:

1. 'In an inking device of the class described a reservoir adapted for the reception of ink; a roller rotatably mounted on said reservoir and projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted for engaging the surface of a ribbon to be inked; a wick-carrying tube; a wick projected through said tube and contacting at one \end the ink in said reservoir and projecting at its opposite end, outwardly beyond the end of said tube; a rigid supporting member on said tube for supporting the outwardly projecting end of said wick and pressing the same against the periphery of said roller; a bracket on said tube; a cross bar detachably engaging the edges of said reservoir and engaging said bracket for rockably mounting said tube thereon.

2. In an inking device of the class described a reservoir adapted for the reception of ink; a roller rotatably mounted on said reservoir and projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted for engaging the surface of a ribbon to be inked; a Wick-carrying tube; a wick projected through said tube and contacting at one end the ink in said reservoir and projecting at its opposite end, outwardly beyond the end of said tube; a rigid supporting member on said tube for supporting the outwardly projecting end of said wick and pressing the same against the periphery of said roller; a bracket on said tube; a cross bar detachably engaging the edges of said reservoir and engaging said bracket for rockably mounting said tube thereon, said cross bar bein sufiiciently long for permitting movement of said supporting member axially of said roller for applying ink at various locations axially thereof.

3. In an inking device of the class described, a reservoir adapted for the reception of ink; a roller rotatably mounted on said reservoir and projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted for engaging the surface of a ribbon to be inked; a wick-carrying tube projected at its lower end into said reservoir; a wick projected through said tube and extending beyond the ends of said tube, said wick at the lower end of said tube contacting the ink in said reservoir, and the wick at the upper end of said tube being adapted for contacting said roller; and a supporting bar for supporting said tube, said supporting bar being positioned adjacent the upper portion of said reservoir and engaging said tube adjacent its upper end, the portion of said tube above said bar being of less weight than the portion of said tube below said bar and said bar being rockable in response to gravity for maintaining the upper end of said wick in engagement with said roller.

4. In an inking device of the class described, a reservoir adapted for the reception of ink; a roller rotatably mounted on said reservoir and projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted for engaging the surface of a ribbon to be inked; a wickcarrying tube projected at its lower end into said reservoir; a wick projected through said tube and extending beyond the ends of said tube, said wick at the lower end of said tube contacting the ink in said reservoir, and the wick at the upper end of said tube being adapted for contacting said roller; and a supporting bar for supporting said tube, said supporting bar being positioned adjacent the upper portion of said reservoir and engaging said tube adjacent its upper end, the portion of said tube above said bar being of less weight than the portion of said tube below said bar and said bar being rockable in response to gravity for maintaining the upper end of said wick in engagement with said roller; and a rigid supporting member carried by said tube and engaging the upper end of said wick and preventing flexing of the same upon engagement of the same with said roller.

ORLAND W. MARKES.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,630 Bailey May 11, 1886 1,049,139 Owens Dec. 31, 1912 1,391,139 Ormes Sept. 20, 1921 1,788,455 Edmiston et al. Jan. 13, 1931 1,795,965 Pederiva Mar. 10, 1931 2,098,171 DeVoorde 1- Nov. 2, 1937 2,103,494 Romano et al Dec. 23, 1937 2,141,073 Wetzel Dec. 20, 1938 2,172,115 Trueman et a1. Sept. 5, 1939 

